OCC-C ENTRAL D IVISION
Hilliard Davidson
Perennial power faces uncertainty
By FRANK DiRENNA THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
With just three starters back on each side of the ball, Hilliard Davidson High School football coach Brian White was uncertain of his team’s outlook as it prepared for his 18th season. The Wildcats are seeking their ninth consecutive postseason berth, but White said that goal could be a challenge after losing 23 players to graduation. Last season, Davidson reached a Division I, Region 2 semifinal before losing to Huber Heights Wayne 20-6 at Welcome Stadium in Dayton to finish 11-2 overall. Davidson was voted ThisWeek’s Super 7 poll champion for the fourth time in six years. “I see a lot of inexperience,” White said. “We have three returning starters on offense and three returning starters on defense and there’s no substitute for Friday night experience. There’s no comparison between (playing on) Saturday morning and Friday night. It remains to be seen who’s going to be able to step up and handle the speed of the game on a Friday night.” The Wildcats also are looking to defend their OCC-Central Division title after finishing first at 7-0. Central Crossing and Dublin Coffman tied for second at 5-2. It was Davidson’s 22nd league title and 14th OCC championship. The OCC-Central will have a new look this season as Thomas Worthington has moved to the OCC-Cardinal and Olentangy Liberty will play in the newly formed OCCBuckeye. White believes Coffman is the team to beat and that Central Crossing has the potential to be a contender. How quickly his relatively young and inexperienced team responds will be a key to the Wildcats’ season. “We just need to grind it out day in and day out to reach our potential and I think we can do it,” senior quarterback David St. Clair said. Davidson opens Aug. 26 at Grove City, the seventh consecutive meeting between the teams to kick off the season. The Wildcats have won five of the previous six meetings, with Grove City winning 6-0 in 2014. The schedule also includes August 25, 2016
non-league home contests against Hilliard rivals Darby (Sept. 2) and Bradley (Sept. 9). “I look at our schedule this year and I see a very difficult schedule,” White said. “Supposedly, Bradley is going to be the best team in Hilliard this year. They have some really good players coming back and they’re doing a good job. Darby is Darby and they’re always going to play us tough.”
OFFENSE
Although they were hit hard by graduation on offense, the Wildcats return one of the top running backs in the area in 5foot-11, 195-pound senior Ryan Royer. He rushed for 1,496 yards and 20 touchdowns on 267 carries last season and was named first-team all-league and second-team all-district. “(Royer’s presence) helps a lot,” White said. “We have to keep him healthy and not run him into the ground so he can be able to carry the ball late in the season.” Royer will run behind senior fullback Kent Hummell. St. Clair replaces 2016 graduate Jack Klein at quarterback in the team’s triple-option attack. “David is very athletic, he’s very skilled, he has good speed, he has good agility and balance, but again, when it comes to making decisions on Friday night, he’s going to have to
Senior Jesse Wymard will start in the secondary as well as be in the rotation at wide receiver for Davidson, which finished 11-2 last season. COLUMBUS DISPATCH FILE PHOTO
make tougher decisions this year than he had to last year,” White said. St. Clair was a starting wide receiver last season, although he filled in at quarterback when Klein missed two games with an ankle injury. “I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge, looking forward to stepping up,” St. Clair said. “The quarterback has to help lead the team, especially with the lack of experience that we have. We need somebody to challenge to get all the guys motivated.” The other returning starter on offense is senior tight end Sam Monnin. A key concern for White is how quickly a new-look offensive line develops. He said junior Sam Backenstoe (6-2, 249) had an impressive offseason
and will step in as the starting center. “This is a good time of the year,” Backenstoe said. “All the guys are really close. We have a good group of guys to play some football with. We’ll be looking for some guys to step up, somebody who can bring something good to the table.” Other key linemen should be seniors Charlie May and Louis Pagan. “I know Sammy Backenstoe can play the game,” White said. “Now we’ll see how the rest of them mishmash together.” Wide receivers include seniors Matt Blevins and Jesse Wymard.
DEFENSE
The development of the team’s 50-shade defense will
be another key to its success this fall. Returning starters are Wymard at free safety, senior Boston Nolty at linebacker and senior Nick Commings at cornerback. At 5-11 and 193 pounds, senior Daniel Downs moves
from linebacker to the defensive line and will handle the team’s Leo assignment, lining up across from the tight end. White said junior Nonso Uba has been impressive in the preseason and should be a key
WILDCATS >> 91
Good Luck Hilliard Davidson! $
5 OFF $ 20
Excludes Alcohol
2459 Hilliard Rome Rd.
Cannot be combined with any other offers Expires 11-30-16 promo: good luck
Next to Kroger
www.submarinehouse.com
Good Luck Hilliard Davidson! 3185 Hilliard-Rome Rd
|
614.527.8812
olivetreecolumbus.com
Bring in this ad for
5 OFF $25
$
Excludes Alcohol Cannot be combined with any other offers
Go Davidson Wildcats! 4121 MAIN STREET HILLIARD, OH Serving Hilliard Since 1995
Good Luck Davidson! Open 365 days per year Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-5pm Saturday 9:30am-12pm
Meet Dr. Schultz and Dr. Breen! Providing the highest quality medical care for your family from infancy through college years!
3643 Ridge Mill Dr., Hilliard 614-771-0200 • www.pedphys.com
Good Luck Wildcats!
614-529-1198
www.starlinerdiner.com
5300 Cemetery Rd. Hilliard, OH 43026
614-876-4054 CHECK OUT OUR NEW LOCATION!
FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE 2016 Football Preview
Proudly Serving Hilliard for 45 Years!
www.hilliardlawnequipment.com Page 29